Acts 2:14a, 36-41; 1 Pet 2:20b-25; Jn 10:1-10
A Sunday School teacher decided to have her young class memorize one of the most quoted passages in the Bible: Psalm 23. She gave the youngsters a month to learn the verse. Little Ricky was excited about the task – but, he just couldn’t remember the Psalm. After much practice, he could barely get past the first line.
On the day that the kids were scheduled to recite Psalm 23 in front of the congregation, Ricky was so nervous. When it was his turn, he stepped up to the microphone and said proudly, “The Lord is my Shepherd, and that’s all I need to know.”
(The story is from an unknown author)
The fourth Sunday of Easter is assigned as Good Shepherd Sunday. For us believers, the Good Shepherd is no less than Jesus Christ himself. He is our model of a servant-leader, both in the religious and in the secular world.
The image of a good shepherd is appropriated to Jesus because he possesses within himself the qualities of one who takes care of the flock. Like a good shepherd, he knows us individually and he looks after each one of us. As a good shepherd, Jesus leads us by example; he practices what he preaches. And finally, like a good shepherd, Jesus is willing to give his life for our protection and well-being.
Almost all of us have shepherding roles. Priests and religious are called to lead the people in their journey to God or to heaven. Government and civil authorities are expected to lead their constituents to progress and prosperity. In the family, parents are leaders of their children; while in school, teachers are leaders of their students. However, we need to ask ourselves: What kind of leaders or shepherds are we?
If we serve only when it is convenient, we are no good shepherds. If we serve only when there is money involved, we are what Jesus calls “robbers and thieves” of the flock. If we lead people only from a distance or if we have no personal involvement with those whom we serve, we are bad shepherds.
The gospel tells us that Jesus is not only the Good Shepherd; he also is the gate of the sheepfold. In old Middle Eastern shepherding, the sheepfold is a circular wall of stones with a small opening for the sheep to pass through. Once the sheep are all inside, instead of closing a hinged gate, the shepherd would normally lie across the opening, so that no intruder or beast can get through without going over his body first, without confronting or even killing him. This kind of shepherding involves not only care but also courage. Jesus is like this kind of a shepherd to us – literally, he is ready to lay down his life for us.
What about us? Do we also have the courage to sacrifice our life for people entrusted to our care?
A Sunday School teacher decided to have her young class memorize one of the most quoted passages in the Bible: Psalm 23. She gave the youngsters a month to learn the verse. Little Ricky was excited about the task – but, he just couldn’t remember the Psalm. After much practice, he could barely get past the first line.
On the day that the kids were scheduled to recite Psalm 23 in front of the congregation, Ricky was so nervous. When it was his turn, he stepped up to the microphone and said proudly, “The Lord is my Shepherd, and that’s all I need to know.”
(The story is from an unknown author)
The fourth Sunday of Easter is assigned as Good Shepherd Sunday. For us believers, the Good Shepherd is no less than Jesus Christ himself. He is our model of a servant-leader, both in the religious and in the secular world.
The image of a good shepherd is appropriated to Jesus because he possesses within himself the qualities of one who takes care of the flock. Like a good shepherd, he knows us individually and he looks after each one of us. As a good shepherd, Jesus leads us by example; he practices what he preaches. And finally, like a good shepherd, Jesus is willing to give his life for our protection and well-being.
Almost all of us have shepherding roles. Priests and religious are called to lead the people in their journey to God or to heaven. Government and civil authorities are expected to lead their constituents to progress and prosperity. In the family, parents are leaders of their children; while in school, teachers are leaders of their students. However, we need to ask ourselves: What kind of leaders or shepherds are we?
If we serve only when it is convenient, we are no good shepherds. If we serve only when there is money involved, we are what Jesus calls “robbers and thieves” of the flock. If we lead people only from a distance or if we have no personal involvement with those whom we serve, we are bad shepherds.
The gospel tells us that Jesus is not only the Good Shepherd; he also is the gate of the sheepfold. In old Middle Eastern shepherding, the sheepfold is a circular wall of stones with a small opening for the sheep to pass through. Once the sheep are all inside, instead of closing a hinged gate, the shepherd would normally lie across the opening, so that no intruder or beast can get through without going over his body first, without confronting or even killing him. This kind of shepherding involves not only care but also courage. Jesus is like this kind of a shepherd to us – literally, he is ready to lay down his life for us.
What about us? Do we also have the courage to sacrifice our life for people entrusted to our care?
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